Gareth Southgate struck a clear note in his first England press-conference - no slogans, just straight talk and love of the game

Gareth Southgate still looks as though he could play and he remains a footballer at heart.
Fitting, then, that the most emotive image painted during his introduction as England’s latest manager was a football image.
‘There was a brilliant picture of the bench when we scored (a late winner) against Slovakia and everybody was jumping up,’ said Southgate yesterday.
‘Sometimes England teams are accused of not caring. But when you watch the celebrations of the players there, that gives us a chance.
‘So I will talk (to the players) about what this means to me and the excitement, pride and honour... read more

Related news

Now that all 32 places at the 2018 World Cup have been filled, fans can start getting excited for a busy summer of football in Russia.
The question now turns to who England will be playing at the tournament when it kicks off on June 14.
With the...

Gareth Southgate believes Harry Kane will come to Russia next summer looking to prove he’s the best striker in world football.
The England manager, who is here in Moscow for Friday evening’s World Cup draw, said: ‘I’m certain that is Harry’s ambition,...

Gareth Southgate insists he trusts England’s medical team to ‘make the right calls’ after Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho was left ‘fuming’ over the handling of Phil Jones.
Jones, 25, enjoyed a fine start to the 2017-18 campaign but has not...

England manager Gareth Southgate was beaming after his side received a very generous World Cup draw in Moscow's Kremlin State Palace.
The challenge of Belgium, Tunisia and debutants Panama looks a good deal easier than the group of death in Brazil...

Gareth Southgate is willing to extend his experiment of rotating the England captaincy into the World Cup, with the national team likely to travel to Russia without a defined leader.
Southgate is also planning more away days for his players, similar...

Gareth Southgate will keep his job as manager even if his England team lose all three World Cup group games in Russia next year.
There would be a national outcry were England to suffer a third successive major tournament humiliation at the hands of...